Analysis of gully dimensions and sediment texture from southeast Australia for catchment sediment budgeting

Catchment scale sediment budgeting models are increasingly being used to target remediation works aimed at controlling erosion and improving water quality. Gully erosion is often a major sediment source and needs to be accounted for in such models in a manner consistent with the scale of analysis and available data. Using 130 measurements of gully cross-sectional area and 45 measurements of gully wall sediment texture, the variability in gully dimensions and particle size distribution for the Lake Burragorang catchment in Australia is examined. The distribution of gully cross-sectional area measurements is log-normally distributed and modelling indicates a representative value of 23 m² be used in catchment sediment budgeting applications. The proportion of gully eroded sediment contributing to the bedload budget (defined as particles > 63 μm diameter) of a river link is approximately half, though may be higher in igneous landscapes. A continental scale spatially distributed subsoil texture dataset provided limited capacity to predict the finer scale spatial variation in the proportion of sediment contributing to bedload from gully erosion within the Lake Burragorang catchment.     

Dispersal and establishment of floodplain grassland species as limiting factors in restoration

The restoration of grassland and its dependence on the dispersal of characteristic plant species was analysed in the Saale River floodplain near Halle (Germany). Species composition and soil nutrient content were investigated in grassland converted to extensive management in 1989 (“restoration grassland”) and in adjacent grassland that had never been managed intensively (“old grassland”). In two experiments dispersal of Silaum silaus and Serratula tinctoria was studied following introduction of these species into “restoration grassland”. Seedling establishment was recorded and compared with the “old grassland”. Ten years after conversion to extensive management, characteristic floodplain grassland species had only reappeared in locations very close to “old grassland”. There were still differences in soil nutrient content of both grassland sites but a comparison of seedling survival provided evidence that conditions of establishment were similar. However, establishment rates appeared to be low in both grassland types indicating that a large initial input of seeds is required for re-establishment. Seeds of Silaum silaus and Serratula tinctoria were dispersed very short distances. About 75% of the seedlings were found within 1.5 m of parent plants. Management and flooding did not increase dispersal distances. The results strongly suggest that poor dispersal was the main limiting factor in determining the success of restoration. The implications of this result for nature conservation are discussed.     

坝地沉积旋回泥沙养分变化及其对小流域泥沙来源的解释

黄土高原广泛分布的坝地沉积泥沙中赋存了大量小流域侵蚀特征及侵蚀环境变化的信息,泥沙特性的变化则是这些信息的直接体现。该文通过对比分析淤地坝沉积旋回泥沙中和坝控小流域内不同泥沙源地土壤中有机质、全氮、全磷和全钾的含量,发现小流域内土壤养分含量变异性明显大于沉积旋回泥沙中的变异性,沉积旋回泥沙养分含量与沟壁土壤中的相接近,其中与沟壁中的全氮、全磷和全钾无显著差异(p>0.05),但显著小于荒草地和坡耕地中的有机质、全氮和全磷含量(p<0.05),表明淤地坝运行期间小流域泥沙主要来源于沟壁坍塌和沟道扩展,重力侵蚀和沟蚀是主要侵蚀类型;有机质和全氮在坝地沉积旋回中呈明显阶段性变化,分析认为其反映了农村土地联产承包责任制对小流域土地利用和土壤侵蚀的影响。     

黄泛平原小网格农田林网的风场特征

有效控制黄泛平原风沙危害对于农业增产增收具有重要的意义,以山东省菏泽市鄄城县黄河滩区3种主林带林龄(分别为4 a、6 a和8 a)的等面积小网格(分别记为网格1、2、3)农田林网为研究对象,通过空间多点观测,研究网格内风场的空间分布特征及其防护效能。结果表明:主林带树高或林龄对林网内风速的变化有较大影响,防风效能和防护面积随着主林带树高的增加而增大。林网内风速的半方差函数分析表明,3种网格内风速理论变异模型分别为高斯模型、球型模型和球型模型,而且有强烈的空间自相关性,其自相关性大小和空间连续性与主林带林龄密切相关,表现为网格1<网格2<网格3。以降低风速30%～50%为标准确定有效防护面积,3种网格的平均有效防护面积比分别为31.0%、40.7%和46.7%。总体上,相同面积林网的防护效能随林带树高增大而增大。研究成果可为农田林网的可持续经营提供理论依据。     

Suspended sediment budget and intra-event sediment dynamics of a small glaciated mountainous catchment in the Northern Caucasus

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The sediment dynamics of (peri-)glacial catchments can be highly variable and complex. Understanding these dynamics and their underlying causes is not only of...     

Effect of location on starch content and tuber texture characteristics in potato breeding lines and cultivars

The texture of boiled potato tubers is one of the most important quality traits. The variation of tuber texture is usually examined in relationship with dry matter or starch content. The objective of the work was to examine variation and stability of texture and starch content in tubers grown in various environments. Both traits were evaluated for the set of potato breeding lines and 10 table potato cultivars. The lines were developed in the program of parental lines carried out in M?ochów Research Center, Poland. The environments were represented by three locations, which differed in cultivation system as well as climatic and soil conditions. The traits were influenced by the effects of genotype, location and their interactions. The effect of location on texture was not explained by the changes in starch content. The calculated stability parameters indicated that unstable expression of both traits was more pronounced and more frequent in breeding lines than in the cultivars. The short period of selection used in the development of the parental lines is not conducive to select potato genotypes with stable expression of quality traits. The starch content was at most moderately related with various characteristics of tuber texture.     

基于泥沙指纹识别的小流域颗粒态磷来源解析

控制泥沙迁移一直是流域管理的重点,而泥沙携带污染物与养分(磷)对下游水体的影响愈发引起关注。研究泥沙来源的位置、特征及各来源对泥沙输出的贡献,有助于针对重点源区实施水土流失以及水污染治理措施。农业小流域中磷的输出以泥沙吸附的颗粒态磷为主,研究泥沙来源可为探讨颗粒态磷的来源提供重要基础。复合指纹技术是一种可靠的泥沙源解析方法,但在一些地表物质相对均一、输沙量较小、受人为因素影响较多的东部小流域,能否应用指纹识别法解析泥沙来源并探讨颗粒态磷来源还需要验证。该文以南京市九乡河上游小流域为研究区,尝试以指纹识别技术分析流域泥沙来源为基础,进而研究不同来源对颗粒态磷输出的相对贡献。研究结果表明,农田对泥沙输出的贡献为25.3%~65.2%,对颗粒态磷输出的贡献达52.2%~85.8%;矿山及道路施工用地对泥沙输出的贡献为34.8%~74.7%,但是对颗粒态磷输出的贡献仅为14.2%~47.7%;而来源于林地的泥沙与颗粒态磷总体上均不到0.1%。复合指纹技术不但能够有效识别泥沙来源,且以泥沙源解析来研究颗粒态磷来源,能够为基础资料缺乏地区提高颗粒态磷来源识别的合理性以及流域非点源磷污染控制提供一种思路和方法。     

Modelling of snowmelt erosion and sediment yield in a small low-mountain catchment in Germany

Temporal variability and spatial heterogeneity of surface runoff generation triggers the dynamics of source areas of sediment and sediment-associated nutrient transport. Reliable modelling of hydrological special situations i.e. snowmelt is of high importance for the quality of erosion and sediment yield modelling. Data from the research catchment Schäfertal demonstrate the individuality of snowmelt events in terms of runoff coefficient and delivery ratio. This 1.44 km² low mountain catchment is characterised by a high portion of arable land with a winter grain/winter rape crop rotation. The integrated winter erosion and nutrient load model (IWAN) considers these dynamic aspects by coupling a hydrological model with a sediment load model. Cell size of this raster-based approach is 10 × 10 m². Additionally, snowmelt rill erosion is simulated with a newly developed physically based model that is firstly applied on a catchment scale. A sensitivity analysis of this model system component demonstrates the plausibility of the model approach and the overall robustness of the model system IWAN. The results of the long-term hydrological modelling from 1991 to 2003 are reliable and form the basis for the simulation of six snowmelt events which were observed in the Schäfertal catchment. The estimated total runoff volumes for these events match the observations well. The modelled overland runoff coefficients vary from 0.001 to 0.72. The mean values of cell erosion, which were modelled with one set of parameters for all six events range from 0.0006 to 0.96 t ha^− 1. The total modelled erosion for the events with unfrozen soil and low amount of surface runoff is of a factor 50 below those with partly frozen soil. In addition to these distinctions, the major differences are caused by flow accumulation in shallow depressions in variable parts of the catchment. However, the validation of these results on the single event scale is restricted due to limited spatial data. Total simulated sediment yield at the catchment outlet was as high as 13.84 t which underestimates the observed values, with the exception of one event. Oversimplification of the modelled channel processes may be a reason. The temporal variability and spatial heterogeneity of the surface roughness parameter, which was identified to be sensitive, also causes uncertainty in the parameter estimation. Despite these findings, the model system IWAN was applied successfully on the catchment scale and the simulated results are reliable.     

Modelling of snowmelt erosion and sediment yield in a small low-mountain catchment in Germany

Temporal variability and spatial heterogeneity of surface runoff generation triggers the dynamics of source areas of sediment and sediment-associated nutrient transport. Reliable modelling of hydrological special situations i.e. snowmelt is of high importance for the quality of erosion and sediment yield modelling. Data from the research catchment Schäfertal demonstrate the individuality of snowmelt events in terms of runoff coefficient and delivery ratio. This 1.44 km² low mountain catchment is characterised by a high portion of arable land with a winter grain/winter rape crop rotation. The integrated winter erosion and nutrient load model (IWAN) considers these dynamic aspects by coupling a hydrological model with a sediment load model. Cell size of this raster-based approach is 10 × 10 m². Additionally, snowmelt rill erosion is simulated with a newly developed physically based model that is firstly applied on a catchment scale. A sensitivity analysis of this model system component demonstrates the plausibility of the model approach and the overall robustness of the model system IWAN. The results of the long-term hydrological modelling from 1991 to 2003 are reliable and form the basis for the simulation of six snowmelt events which were observed in the Schäfertal catchment. The estimated total runoff volumes for these events match the observations well. The modelled overland runoff coefficients vary from 0.001 to 0.72. The mean values of cell erosion, which were modelled with one set of parameters for all six events range from 0.0006 to 0.96 t ha^− 1. The total modelled erosion for the events with unfrozen soil and low amount of surface runoff is of a factor 50 below those with partly frozen soil. In addition to these distinctions, the major differences are caused by flow accumulation in shallow depressions in variable parts of the catchment. However, the validation of these results on the single event scale is restricted due to limited spatial data. Total simulated sediment yield at the catchment outlet was as high as 13.84 t which underestimates the observed values, with the exception of one event. Oversimplification of the modelled channel processes may be a reason. The temporal variability and spatial heterogeneity of the surface roughness parameter, which was identified to be sensitive, also causes uncertainty in the parameter estimation. Despite these findings, the model system IWAN was applied successfully on the catchment scale and the simulated results are reliable.     

Effect of hydrodynamics factors on sediment flocculation processes in estuaries

Purpose

Cohesive sediment is able to flocculate and create flocs, which are larger than individual particles and less dense. The phenomenon of flocculation has an important role in sediment transport processes such as settling, deposition and erosion. In this study, laboratory experiments were performed to investigate the effect of key hydrodynamic parameters such as suspended sediment concentration and salinity on floc size and settling velocity. Results were compared with previous laboratory and field studies at different estuaries.

Materials and methods

Experimental tests were conducted in a 1-L glass beaker of 11-cm diameter using suspended sediment samples from the Severn Estuary. A particle image velocimetry system and image processing routine were used to measure the floc size distribution and settling velocity.

Results and discussion

The settling velocity was found to range from 0.2 to 1.2 mm s^?1. Settling velocity changed in the case of increasing suspended sediment concentration and was controlled by the salinity. The faster settling velocity occurred when sediment concentration is higher or the salinity is lower than 2.5. On the other hand, at salinities higher than 20, in addition to increasing SSC, it was found that the situation was reversed, i.e. the lower the sediment concentration, the faster the settling velocity.

Conclusions

Sediment flocculation is enhanced with increasing sediment concentration but not with increasing salinity.

     

植被覆盖度和降雨侵蚀力变化对小流域泥沙连通性的影响

泥沙连通性可以反映泥沙源汇的潜在联系,识别流域水土流失热点区域及泥沙迁移路径。研究泥沙连通性的影响因素有助于更好地理解泥沙连通性的时空变化特征。该研究在已有泥沙连通性指数（Index of Connectivity,IC）模型基础上,考虑影响连通性的功能性因素,并采用修正泥沙连通性指数（Revised Index of Sediment Connectivity,ICr）探讨了植被覆盖度和降雨侵蚀力耦合作用下的季节与年际变化对天目湖中田舍河流域泥沙连通性特征的影响。结果表明：2019年夏冬季植被覆盖度分别为85%、57%,对应的泥沙连通性指数均值是-9.39、-6.85,植被覆盖度变化对泥沙连通性具有重要影响,利用NDVI值获取模型中的地表综合系数,可以动态反映地表植被和土地利用的区域及季节性变化;降雨影响泥沙的功能连通性,年尺度上的连通性指数均值同流域泥沙量的相关系数达0.91。说明在流域植被覆盖变化不明显时或者在林地为主的流域中,降雨因子具有主导作用;植被覆盖度升高28%,IC均值降低37%,而单独考虑降雨因子的IC-R均值则反映出雨量升高,指数值随之升高,修正连通性指数ICr综合考虑了植被与降雨因子,但在应用中要依据流域实际情况适当调整两者的权重。研究结果指出泥沙连通性指数在中国东南部区域运用中存在的问题,将对气候变化背景下中国湿润区湖泊小流域水土保持与水环境治理等提供科学参考。     

Impact of afforestation on hydrological response and sediment production in a small Calabrian catchment

Extensive afforestation using Pinus and Eucalyptus has taken place in Calabria since the early 1960's to control expansion of calanchi and biancane. In 1978 three small catchments were established near Crotone to monitor the effect of afforestation on hydrological response and sediment yield. In 1992, rainfall simulation experiments were carried out on plots in these catchments to determine more precisely the effect of tree and ground vegetation on surface runoff and erosional response. Most experiments were carried out in a logged catchment with slopes ranging from 20 to 30° and aspects from SW to NE. Results showed complex runoff generation and sediment production, reflecting the effect of microclimate and subtle variations in vegetation on infiltration characteristics. On south-facing slopes with little ground vegetation runoff generation was rapid with runoff coefficients from 27 to 37% and peak sediment concentrations reaching 83.7 g · 1⁻¹. On north-facing slopes with good tree cover, little grass, but continuous leaf litter, runoff coefficients reached 21%, but peak sediment concentration was only 3.6 g · 1⁻¹, while on recently logged north-facing slopes with dense grass cover the highest runoff coefficient was only 5.5% runoff coefficient, and there was virtually no sediment production. Implications of results for forest management and soil conservation are discussed.     

Establishing sediment budgets for two small lowland agricultural catchments in the UK

Sediment budgets have been established for two small (<4 km²), lowland, agricultural catchments, by using ¹³⁷Cs measurements, sediment source fingerprinting and more traditional monitoring techniques to quantify the individual components of the budget. The gross and net erosion rates for the fields on the catchment slopes were estimated using ¹³⁷Cs measurements within selected fields, which encompassed a representative range of slope angles, slope lengths and land use. These estimates were extrapolated over the entire catchment, using a simple topographically driven soil erosion model (Terrain-Based GIS, TBGIS) superimposed on a DEM, to derive catchment average gross and net erosion rates. Suspended sediment yields were measured at the catchment outlets and sediment source fingerprinting techniques were used to establish the relative contributions from the catchment surface, subsurface tile drains and eroding channel banks to the sediment yields. In-channel and wetland storage were quantified using both direct measurements and ¹³⁷Cs measurements. The sediment budgets established for the catchments highlighted the importance of subsurface tile drains as a pathway for sediment transfer, accounting for ca. 60% and 30% of the sediment output from the two catchments. Erosion from channel banks contributed ca. 10% and 6% of the sediment output from the two catchments. Although the suspended sediment yields from these catchments were considered high by UK standards (ca. 90 t km⁻² year⁻¹), the sediment delivery ratios ranged between 14% and 27%, indicating that a major proportion of the mobilised sediment was stored within the catchments. In-field and field-to-channel storage were shown to be of similar magnitude, but storage of sediment in the channel system and associated wetlands was relatively small, representing <5% of the annual suspended sediment yield.     

Multi-parameter fingerprinting of sediment deposition in a small gullied catchment in SE Australia

The determination of relative contributions of potential sediment sources is an important step in the development of management strategies to combat soil erosion. In a 1.2 km² gullied catchment in southeastern New South Wales, multi-parameter fingerprinting of sediment deposited in successive downstream pools has identified gully walls as the dominant sediment source when the grazed pasture surface was the only other potential source. The median fractional contributions remained relatively steady in the successive downstream pools, with the gully walls responsible for between 90% and 98% of the pool sediment. This result was achieved despite the ratio of the source areas varying considerably between successive nested subareas. Reliability bounds on the predictions, accounting for limited sampling of sources, were well constrained and varied between 5.4% and 13.8%. Downstream of an unsealed road crossing, sediment from the road source dominated the pool sediments such that contributions from the pasture surface and gully sources could not be determined.     

黄土丘陵区小流域淤地坝泥沙沉积特征

了解淤地坝泥沙沉积特征是坝地泥沙输移过程及规律研究的基础和前提。该文通过对黄土丘陵区小流域淤地坝不同位置泥沙沉积剖面中各沉积旋回层厚度及粒径组成变化的分析,研究了淤地坝次洪水沉积过程中泥沙的再分布特征。结果表明:坝地内次洪水泥沙沉积过程为非均匀分布,各沉积旋回层厚度在纵剖面和横剖面都存在一定差异,早期沉积层厚度的起伏变化要大于后期的起伏变化。坝地泥沙粒径组成以粉粒为主,黏粒、粉粒和沙粒的平均含量分别为4.66%、58.78%和36.56%。坝地泥沙沉积过程中,各旋回层中黏粒、粉粒和沙粒的平均含量变化较小,但在坝地不同位置,土壤粒径组成发生了一定程度的分选。从坝尾到坝前,土壤质地粗化度显著下降,土壤粒径组成呈逐步细化的趋势。     

Relationships among rainfall, runoff, and suspended sediment in a small catchment with badlands

The Araguás Catchment of the Central Spanish Pyrenees has been monitored since 2004 to study weathering, erosion, and the hydrological and sediment response to rainfall events in order to understand the hydromorphological dynamics of a badland area in a relatively humid environment. This small catchment (0.45 km²) shows highly active processes of physical and chemical weathering related to seasonal variations in temperature and moisture. Erosion and sediment transport are widely studied in badlands within Mediterranean environments because they represent the dominant sediment source. To obtain information about suspended sediment and discharge, a gauging station was installed within the Araguás Catchment during the summer of 2005. The aim of this work is to determine the relationships among rainfall, runoff, and suspended sediment in this badland area. Towards this goal, we analyze the relationships between suspended sediment concentration and discharge during rainfall events.From a hydrological viewpoint, the Araguás Catchment reacts to all rainfall events with torrential flow being the most characteristic hydrological response. The results obtained between October 2005 and April 2007 reveal extremely high concentrations of suspended sediment, with values frequently exceeding 100 g l^{<modINS>−<!--[/INS]"> 1} and reaching a maximum of 1200 g l^{<modINS>−<!--[/INS]"> 1}. Three different types of hysteretic loops were observed: clockwise (22 events, 28%), counter-clockwise (27 events, 34%), and figure-eight (12 events, 15%). Moreover, 23% of events were classified as complex hysteretic loops and removed from the analysis due to their complexity. Clockwise hysteretic floods are characterized by their long duration and the highest hydrological and sedimentological responses; counter-clockwise hysteretic floods are characterized by their short duration and moderate hydrological and sediment responses; finally, figure-eight hysteretic floods are related to multiple peaks in suspended sediment, coinciding with oscillations in discharge associated with the highest rainfall intensities within each event and moderate hydrological and sediment responses.     

小流域径流泥沙自动采集器的试验研究

仪器仪表作为对信息进行采集、测量、处理和控制的重要手段和设备,已成为推动科学技术和国民经济高速发展的关键技术之一。在小流域出口处设置量水堰是研究流域水文过程及土壤侵蚀监测的一个重要方法,为实现小流域径流含沙量的动态监测,自行研制了一种小流域径流泥沙自动采集器,以一种简单的采样技术代替传统方法来提高含沙量测定的自动化水平及测量精度。通过模拟试验验证了采集器的适用性,结果证明采集器具有很好的可靠性和观测精度,与标准值的平均相对误差仅为0.42%。另外,该装置与传统水样收集方法相比自动化程度高,管理方便,适于野外无人看守情况下径流样品的自动采集。因此,所研制的小流域径流泥沙自动采集器有一定的应用前景。     

武陵山区女儿寨小流域次降雨径流与产沙特征

 以武陵山区女儿寨小流域为研究区,根据流域2004—2008年77场典型降雨径流观测资料,研究流域次降雨径流与产沙特征。结果表明:77场降雨中,以25.0～49.9 mm和50.0～100.0 mm的降雨为主,占降雨总数的67.53%,降雨强度以10～40 mm/h为主;降雨量与径流深和产沙模数呈现较为显著的线性相关性,降雨量、径流深及降雨侵蚀力对产沙模数均有明显影响,其中以径流深和产沙模数的拟合效果最好,R2达0.684 7;在对降雨、径流、产沙共12个指标进行相关性分析的基础上,对径流深、洪峰流量、产沙模数、降雨侵蚀力4个主要指标进行多元逐步回归拟合,R2均在0.85以上,并通过显著性检验,回归方程拟合效果较好,可用于相关指标的定量计算;流域的产沙量主要取决于几次大的暴雨,汛期的降雨决定流域的产流产沙状况。研究结果可为流域水土流失监测和预报、水土保持措施合理配置等提供相应参考。     

西南典型岩溶槽谷小流域地表和地下河悬浮泥沙来源

为了明确岩溶槽谷小流域地表悬浮泥沙与地下河悬浮泥沙的主要来源,制定具有针对性的水土流失防治措施,该研究以青木关岩溶槽谷小流域为例,采集碳酸盐岩、碎屑岩、沟道和裂隙等4种不同泥沙源地土壤样品,测定了137Cs、磁化率、Li、As等41种土壤理化性质作为指纹因子;利用双边范围检验、均值检验和Kruskal-Wallis H非参数检验对所有指纹因子进行筛选,确定Fe、137Cs、Pb、V、质量频率磁化率5种指纹因子为最佳指纹因子组合;采用复合指纹法定量分析地表和地下河出口悬浮泥沙来源。结果表明：降雨量、降雨历时和降雨强度与流域潜在泥沙源地贡献率存在一定的规律;流域潜在泥沙源地对地表悬浮泥沙平均贡献率分别为碳酸盐岩（43.62%）> 沟道（27.34%）>碎屑岩（17.30%）>裂隙（11.74%）,拟合优度为91.88%;对地下河出口悬浮泥沙的平均贡献率分别为碳酸盐岩（36.14%）>裂隙（24.02%）>沟道（22.93%）>碎屑岩（16.91%）,拟合优度为92.56%。该研究定量分析了岩溶槽谷地表和地下河出口悬浮泥沙的主要来源,可为岩溶槽谷小流域综合治理提供参考依据。